Control valve



July 4, 1967 5 A BOETTCHER ET AL 3,329,167

CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. 23, 1964 INVENTORS. 77 -t-"" 20 SZQUhen/CZZZMY; J93. Jbsyh 1/. Cesnw,

United States Patent CONTROL VALVE Stephen A. Boettcher, Riverwoods, Deerfield, and Joseph V. Cesna, Chicago, 111., assignors to The Speedlap Corporation, Skokie, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 412,924 8 Claims. (Cl. 137625.46)

Our present invention relates generally to control valves and more particularly to a valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry.

As shown for example in United States Patent No. 3,110,988 issued on Nov. 19, 1963, it is common to feed a freely flowing abrasive slurry comprised of abrasive particles and a carrier to the lapping wheel or disc of a lapping machine and the like. The abrasive slurry is usually circulated by means of a pump. In connection with such apparatus, it is a primary object of our present invention to provide a valve for controlling the volume of abrasive slurry flowing to the lapping disc whereby to accommodate differing operational requirements of the lapping machine.

It is another object of our present invention to provide a valve, as described, for regulating the flow of abrasive slurry to the lapping disc in infinite steps from zero flow, when the lapping disc is idling, to maximum flow corresponding to the full capacity of the circulating pump.

It is a further object of our present invention to provide a valve, as described, for diverting back to the reservoir of the circulating pump any portion of the abrasive slurry which is not being fed to the lapping disc whereby continuous flow of the abrasive slurry is maintained in order to prevent the abrasive particles from settling out of the carrier.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using control valves in accordance with the principles of our present invention, we shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of our invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the control valve of our present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the control valve of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the control valve of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the control valve of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows the movable valve member in an intermediate rotational position; FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding generally to FIGURE 4, but shows the movable valve member in one extreme rotational position; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding generally to FIGURE 4, but shows the movable valve member in the other extreme rotational position. Referring now to FIGURES l4, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 a control valve incorporating the principles of our present invention. This valve is especially adapted for use in connection With machine tool apparatus such as a lapping machine wherein an abrasive slurry comprised of abrasive particles and a carrier is circulated by means of a pump to the lapping disc. Typical apparatus of this class is shown in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 3,110,988. The control valve 10 comprises a stationary valve memher or block 12 having a planar bearing surface 14. Extending through the valve member 12 are a pair of outlet bores 16 and 18 which have closely adjacent parallel portions, separated by a common web portion 19, with terminal openings at the planar surface 14 of the valve member 12. The ends of the bores 16 and 18, remote from the terminal openings at the planar surface 14, are suitably threaded for receiving conduits 20 and 22, respectively. When used in connection with lapping machine apparatus, the conduit 20 serves to conduct abrasive slurry to the inlet side or reservoir of the circulating pump, While the conduit 22 serves to convey abrasive slurry to the lapping disc.

The control valve 10 further comprises a rotatable valve member 24 having an annular planar bearing surface 26 that is arranged in facing relation to the planar bearing surface 14 of thestationary valve member 12. The rotatable valve member 24 is formed with a central aperture 28 through which extends a bolt 30 having an inner end threaded into an aperture 32 formed in the stationary valve member 12. Suitable O-rings or seals 34 and 36 are provided at the inner and outer peripheries of the annular bearing surface 26 of the rotatable valve member 24, and are biased into sealing engagement with the adjacent surface 14 of the stationary valve member 12 by means of a conical washer 38 interposed between the head of the bolt 30 and the adjacent face of the rotatable valve member 24. The seals 34 and 36 serve to prevent the escape of abrasive slurry from the valve past the inner and outer peripheries of the annular bearing surface 26 of the rotatable valve member 24.

Extending through the rotatable valve member 24 is an inlet bore 40, which, at one end, is threaded to receive a conduit leading to the discharge side of the circulating pump of the lapping machine, and which, at the other end, terminates in an elongated slot 42 at the hearing surface 26. The elongated slot 42 is arranged to overlie the outlet bore 16, or the outlet bore 18, or portions of both in which case the web 19 serves to divide the flow of abrasive slurry. In the preferred embodiment of our invention, the terminal openings of the outlet bores 16 and 18 at the bearing surface 14 are circular and have a diameter approximately equal to the length of the elongated slot 42 of the inlet bore 40. Rotational movement of the valve member 24 is adapted to be effected by means of an operating element or lever 42 secured in, and extending radially from, the valve member 24. Rotational movement of the operating lever 42, and correspondingly of the valve member 24, is preferably limited by means of a pair of stop pins 44 and 46 secured in the stationary valve member 12..

In the operation of our control valve 10, the valve member 24 may be rotated to a position aligningthe elongated slot 42 with the terminal opening of the outlet bore 16 as shown in FIGURE 5. In this position of the valve member 24, all of the abrasive slurry entering the inlet bore 40 is transmitted to the outlet bore 16 communicating with the inlet side or reservoir of the circulating pump of the lapping machine. The valve member 24 is disposed in this position when no abrasive slurry is to be delivered to the lapping disc as, for example, when the latter is idling. When maximum flow of abrasive slurry, corresponding to the full capacity of the circulating pump, is to be delivered to the lapping disc, the valve member 24 is rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 6 so as to align the elongated slot 42 with the output bore 18. When less than maxi-mum volume flow of abrasive slurry is to be delivered to the lapping disc, the valve member 24 may be rotated to an intermediate position such as shown in FIGURE 4 with the elongated slot 42 communicating partially with the outlet bore 16 and partially with the outlet bore 18. In this position of the valve member 24, the volume of abrasive slurry entering the inlet bore 40 is proportionately divided between the outlet bores 16 and 18. It will be appreciated that the valve member 24 may be rotated in infinite steps between its two extreme rotative positions shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 thereby permitting an infinitely variable control of the volume of abrasive slurry, from zero flow to maximum flow, delivered to the lapping disc. By reason of the provision of the elongated slot 42 movable over the closely adjacent -terminal openings of the outlet bores 16 and 18, abrasive slurry flows through the valve without attendant sticking or clogging, and accurate rotative adjustment of the valve member 24 may be made while the abrasive slurry is flowing. In addition, since any portion of the abrasive slurry that is not being fed to the lapping disc is returned to the circulating pump, continuous flow of the abrasive slurry is maintained thereby preventing the abrasive particles from settling out of the carrier.

While we have shown and described what we believe to be a preferred embodiment of our present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a pair of cooperating valve members, One of said valve members having an inlet bore therein terminating at one end in an elongated slot, the other of said valve members having a pair of outlet bores therein with closely adjacent portions separated by a narrow web, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, and one of said valve members being movable relative to the other of said valve members whereby the position of said elongated slot of said inlet bore relative to said outlet bores may be selectively adjusted to regulate the flow of abrasive slurry from said inlet bore to said outlet bores.

2. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a first valve member having a planar bearing surface, an inlet bore extending through said first valve member and terminating in an elongated slot at the bearing surface of said first valve member, a second valve member having a planar bearing surface arranged in facing relation to said bearing surface of said first valve member, a pair of outlet bores extending through said second valve member and opening at their one ends at the bearing surface of the latter, said one ends of said outlet bores being separated by a narrow web, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, and one of said valve members being movable relative to the other of said valve members whereby the position of said elongated slot of said inlet bore relative to said one ends of said outlet bores may be selectively adjusted to regulate the flow of abrasive slurry from said inlet bore to said outlet bores.

3. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a first valve member having a planar bearing surface, an inlet bore extending through said first valve member and terminating in an elongated slot at the bearing surface of said first valve member, a second valve member having a planar bearing surface arranged in facing relation to said bearing surface of said first valve member, seal means between said valve members, a pair of outlet bores extending through said second valve member and having closely adjacent terminal openings at the bearing surface of said second valve member, said terminal openings of said outlet bores being separated by a narrow web, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, and one of said valve members being movable rela i fi t0 the other of said valve members whereby the position of said elongated slot of said inlet bore may be selectively adjusted relative to said terminal openings of said outlet bores to regulate the flow of abrasive slurry from said inlet bore to said outlet bores.

4. The valve of claim 3 wherein said terminal openings of said outlet bores are circular and have the same diameter, and wherein the length of said elongated slot of said inlet bore is substantially equal to the diameter of one of said outlet bores and the width of said web.

5. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a stationary valve member having a planar bearing surface, a pair of outlet bores extending through said stationary valve member and opening at their one ends at the bearing surface of the stationary valve member, said one ends of said outlet bores being separated by a narrow web, a rotatable valve member pivotally mounted to said stationary valve member and having a planar bearing surface arranged in facing relation to said bearing surface of said stationary valve member, an inlet bore extending through said rotatable valve member and terminating in an elongated slot at the bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, and said rotatable valve member being rotatable relative to said stationary valve member whereby the position of said elongated slot of said inlet bore relative to said outlet bores may be selectively adjusted to regulate the flow of abrasive slurry from said inlet bore to said outlet bores.

6. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a stationary valve member having a planar bearing surface, a pair of outlet bores extending through said stationary valve member and having closely adjacent terminal openings at the bearing surface of said stationary valve member, said terminal openings of said outlet bores being separated by a narrow web, a rotatable valve mem-ber pivotally mounted to said stationary valve member and having a planar bearing surface arranged in facing relation to said bearing surface of said stationary valve member, an inlet bore extending through said rotatable valve member and terminating in an elongated slot at the bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, said terminal openings of said outlet bores being circular and having a diameter approximately equal to the length of said elongated slot of said inlet bore, and said rotatable valve member being rotatable relative to said stationary valve member whereby the position of said elongated slot of said inlet bore relative to said terminal openings of said outlet bores may be selectively adjusted to regulate the flow of abrasive slurry from said inlet bore to said outlet bores.

7. A valve for controlling the flow of an abrasive slurry, comprising a stationary valve member having a planar bearing surface, a pair of outlet bores extending through said stationary valve member and having closely adjacent parallel portions with terminal openings at the bearing surface of said stationary valve member, said terminal openings of said outlet bores being separated by a narrow web, a rotatable valve member pivotally mounted to said stationary valve member and having an annular planar bearing surface arranged in facing relation to said bearing surface of said stationary valve member, seal means between said valve members at the inner and outer peripheries of said annular bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, an inlet bore extending through said rotatable valve member and terminating in an elongated slot at the bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, said elongated slot of said inlet bore extending in a direction transversely of said web, said terminal openings of said outlet bores being circular and having the same diameter, the length of said elongated slot of said inlet bore being substantially I equal to the diameter of one of said outlet bores and the width of said Web, and said rotatable valve mem- References Cited her being rotatable relative to said stationary valve mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS f g gzi i h of i dmgited 9 5 1,777,303 10/1930 Goldsmith 137--625.46

e relative to said terminal openings of said out- 2 089 043 8/1937 B b 137 625 46 X let bores may be selectively adjusted in infinite variable 5 us Y steps to regulate the volume flow of abrasive slurry from i 11/1959 Dubols 137-6 6 X said inlet bore to said outlet bores. 4162 3/1964 Cameron 137*62546 X 8. The valve of claim 7 wherein said rotatable valve M CARY NELSON Primal Examiner member is provided with an operating element for efy fecting rotation of said rotatable valve member, and said 10 E. K. FEIN, Assistant Examiner. stationary valve member is provided with stop means for limiting rotational movement of said operating element. 

1. A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF AN ABRASIVE SLURRY, COMPRISING A PAIR OF COOPERATING VALVE MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS HAVING AN INLET BORE THEREIN TERMINATING AT ONE END IN AN ELONGATED SLOT, THE OTHER OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS HAVING A PAIR OF OUTLET BORES THEREIN WITH CLOSELY ADJACENT PORTIONS SEPARATED BY A NARROW WEB, SAID ELONGATED SLOT OF SAID INLET BORE EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF SAID WEB, AND ONE OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS WHEREBY THE POSITION OF SAID ELONGATED SLOT OF SAID INLET BORE RELATIVE TO SAID OUTLET BORES MAY BE SELECTIVELY ADJUSTED TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF ABRASIVE SLURRY FROM SAID INLET BORE TO SAID OUTLET BORES. 